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Govt should unite not divide, says Abbott

Tony Abbott has accused the federal government of the "political crime" of deliberately pitting Australians against each other.

Addressing the Country Liberal Party (CLP) conference in Alice Springs on Sunday, he said that as leader of the federal opposition one could be the "leader of a tribe" but prime ministers had to be leaders of a nation.

"Bad though the performance of this government has been, this government has committed the even greater political crime of deliberately setting out to divide Australians against each other," he said.

"Every time this government plays the class war card, every time the government plays the gender war card, they are seeking to divide Australians from Australians for their own political game."

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He said that was "unworthy" of a government and a prime minister.

Mr Abbott attacked the government's economic policy, the carbon tax and the temporary ban on live cattle exports.

He said the live exports ban in particular had damaged Australia's relationship with Indonesia.

"If there is one thing that I want you to understand about the first few weeks of an incoming coalition government: I will be in Jakarta ... to ensure that this relationship is put on a firm footing once again," he said.

Mr Abbott also twice urged the party to choose the "right candidate" to take on Labor minister Warren Snowdon in the Northern Territory seat of Lingiari.

Mr Snowdon has held the seat since its redistribution in 2001 and won it in 2010 with 53.7 per cent of the vote.

"With the right candidate in Lingiari we won't just change Lingiari, we can change this nation," Mr Abbott told the conference to applause.